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It is often very difficult to find clear information about how the Government has, or intends to spend money. Particularly at election time, many grand and expensive promises are made, yet frequently the money is not ultimately spent, or the opposite, many commitments turn out to be much more expensive than claimed. The Greens are determined to hold the Government to account and are working to ensure that budget information is reported in a way that makes it simple for everybody to find detailed information about what has been promised and how much has been spent.

In addition the Greens will continue to scrutinise the Department of Finance and Deregulation's management of the Australian Government’s non-defence domestic property portfolio and key asset sales.

Public mental health and private mineral wealth are the big winners out of this year's budget, Greens Leader Bob Brown said today."The Greens are celebrating the $1.5 billion boost to mental health funding, although we are shocked to discover that almost $0.5 billion is outside the forward estimates. There is a bias in the overall budget to the influential mining barons who are unelected and send massive profits overseas. While the mining corporations gain, programs for Australians, including the environment have been cut by billions," Senator Brown said.

Public mental health and private mineral wealth are the big winners out of this year's budget, Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

"The Greens are celebrating the $1.5 billion boost to mental health funding, although we are shocked to discover that almost $0.5 billion is outside the forward estimates. There is a bias in the overall budget to the influential mining barons who are unelected and send massive profits overseas. While the mining corporations gain, programs for Australians, including the environment have been cut by billions," Senator Brown said.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown will move in Parliament this week to get the Productivity Commission to examine the development of a sovereign wealth fund, after urging the government for more than a year to set aside funds to help provide for the needs of future generations."Looking beyond Tuesday's centre-right federal budget set to be delivered by the Labor government, Australia needs a sovereign fund to future-proof our economy, in addition to the Future Fund which is not tasked with generating returns for the nation, Senator Brown said today in Sydney."Prosperity, and meeting the growing health needs of an ageing population, should not be left to the vagaries of whether individuals can set aside enough to provide for themselves in their later vulnerable years. The two, tired major parties need to think longer-term."The Australian Greens will move that the Productivity Commission draw on international experience to develop options around the regulatory framework, how funds are invested and managed, funding mechanisms, transparency and accountability, governance structure, and how capital and interest should be used."A sovereign wealth fund could underpin Australia's move to a low-carbon future, looking beyond the current mining boom. It would serve as a source of funding for long-term projects such as high-speed rail and metro light rail.""This concept is not new - Norway's future prosperity, for example, is underpinned by a $500 billion sovereign wealth fund, in anticipation of the day when its non-renewable riches are exhausted - but it is common sense," Senator Brown said.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown will move in Parliament this week to get the Productivity Commission to examine the development of a sovereign wealth fund, after urging the government for more than a year to set aside funds to help provide for the needs of future generations.

"Looking beyond Tuesday's centre-right federal budget set to be delivered by the Labor government, Australia needs a sovereign fund to future-proof our economy, in addition to the Future Fund which is not tasked with generating returns for the nation, Senator Brown said today in Sydney.

"Prosperity, and meeting the growing health needs of an ageing population, should not be left to the vagaries of whether individuals can set aside enough to provide for themselves in their later vulnerable years. The two, tired major parties need to think longer-term."

The Australian Greens will move that the Productivity Commission draw on international experience to develop options around the regulatory framework, how funds are invested and managed, funding mechanisms, transparency and accountability, governance structure, and how capital and interest should be used.

"A sovereign wealth fund could underpin Australia's move to a low-carbon future, looking beyond the current mining boom. It would serve as a source of funding for long-term projects such as high-speed rail and metro light rail."

"This concept is not new - Norway's future prosperity, for example, is underpinned by a $500 billion sovereign wealth fund, in anticipation of the day when its non-renewable riches are exhausted - but it is common sense," Senator Brown said.

The following is an article by Australian Financial Review Chief Political Correspondent David Crowe that first appeared in the paper on Friday May 6 2011Greens leader Bob Brown has warned against a "punitive" federal budget that forces people off welfare, declaring yesterday he and his colleagues would amend reforms if necessary to offer rewards instead of penalties for those who get jobs.Federal Greens MPs held a conference call last night to finalise their budget strategy, opening the discussion to senators-elect who are to join the upper house from July 1 and will vote on budget bills.

The following is an article by Australian Financial Review Chief Political Correspondent David Crowe that first appeared in the paper on Friday May 6 2011

Greens leader Bob Brown has warned against a "punitive" federal budget that forces people off welfare, declaring yesterday he and his colleagues would amend reforms if necessary to offer rewards instead of penalties for those who get jobs.

Federal Greens MPs held a conference call last night to finalise their budget strategy, opening the discussion to senators-elect who are to join the upper house from July 1 and will vote on budget bills.

The Australian Greens will push for a sovereign wealth fund to help fund the needs of future generations, as well as seek to improve budget measures in the immediate budget cycle, Greens Leader Bob Brown said today."A sovereign wealth fund could underpin Australia's move into a low-carbon future, serving as a source of funding for long-term projects such as high-speed rail and metro light rail," Senator Brown said in Hobart.

The Australian Greens will push for a sovereign wealth fund to help fund the needs of future generations, as well as seek to improve budget measures in the immediate budget cycle, Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

"A sovereign wealth fund could underpin Australia's move into a low-carbon future, serving as a source of funding for long-term projects such as high-speed rail and metro light rail," Senator Brown said in Hobart.

Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown gave a press conference where he discussed the Brighton Bypass in Tasmania, the upcoming federal budget, the Greens agreement with the Prime Minister around Leaders' election debates, the attacks on Andrew Wilkie MP and Rob Oakeshott, and other issues.

Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown gave a press conference where he discussed the Brighton Bypass in Tasmania, the upcoming federal budget, the Greens agreement with the Prime Minister around Leaders' election debates, the attacks on Andrew Wilkie MP and Rob Oakeshott, and other issues.

Treasury costings for a proposed savings measure, released by Greens Leader Bob Brown in Canberra today, show almost $1 billion in revenue could be restored over the forward estimates if the Australian Greens' proposal to reduce the fringe benefits tax concessions for company cars is adopted in next month's budget."If the Government is serious about reducing the economy's reliance on fossil fuels, reducing tax breaks that reward people for driving longer distances in company cars should be included in next month's budget," Senator Brown said.

Treasury costings for a proposed savings measure, released by Greens Leader Bob Brown in Canberra today, show almost $1 billion in revenue could be restored over the forward estimates if the Australian Greens' proposal to reduce the fringe benefits tax concessions for company cars is adopted in next month's budget.

"If the Government is serious about reducing the economy's reliance on fossil fuels, reducing tax breaks that reward people for driving longer distances in company cars should be included in next month's budget," Senator Brown said.